Financial Security
Participation in Food Assistance by Race/Ethnicity

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Households Receiving SNAP by Race/Ethnicity, 2016-20

What does this measure?

The proportion of households broken out by race and ethnicity that participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as food stamps).

Why is this important?

The SNAP program provides government funding for low-income people to buy food. It therefore indicates how many people in a region cannot support themselves at a basic level. Differences among racial and ethnic groups may reflect the economic health of these groups, as well as potential disparities in access to economic opportunity.

How is our region doing?

In 2016-20, 24% of Hispanic residents and 18% of African American residents participated in SNAP, compared to 8% of Asian residents and 7% of white residents. By comparison, Massachusetts as a whole had rates of 33% for Hispanic residents, 26% for African American residents, 10% for Asian residents, and 9% for white residents. In the U.S. as a whole, the rates were 19% for Hispanic residents, 24% for African American residents, 7% for Asian residents, and 9% for white residents.

Why do these disparities exist?

Research connects lower incomes and higher poverty rates among people of color to historic and current policies and practices that disadvantaged people of color. These policies and systems, ranging from inequitable access to housing to employment discrimination to education systems that fail to equitably serve all populations, have prevented people of color from fully participating in our economy, locking them out of economic opportunity. This has increased the need for some groups to access programs to support basic needs such as SNAP.

Notes about the data

The Census Bureau asks people to identify their race (white, African American, etc.) separately from their ethnicity (Hispanic or non-Hispanic). Thus, the totals for these categories cannot be added together, as people show up in both a racial and ethnic group.

Studies have found that national survey estimates (including the ACS) of enrollment in public benefit programs tend to underestimate the true rate due to underreporting by participants, when compared with state-level administrative data. Underreporting can occur for a variety of reasons, including the social stigma of program participation and participants' confusion about the source of the services they receive. For these reasons, the estimates reported above should be considered a lower bound of the true estimate.

The multiyear figures are from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey. The bureau combined five years of responses to the survey to provide estimates for smaller geographic areas and increase the precision of its estimates. However, because the information came from a survey, the samples responding to the survey were not always large enough to produce reliable results, especially in small geographic areas. CGR has noted on data tables the estimates with relatively large margins of error. Estimates with three asterisks have the largest margins, plus or minus 50% or more of the estimate. Two asterisks mean plus or minus 35%-50%, and one asterisk means plus or minus 20%-35%. For all estimates, the confidence level is 90%, meaning there is 90% probability the true value (if the whole population were surveyed) would be within the margin of error (or confidence interval). The survey provides data on characteristics of the population that used to be collected only during the decennial census.

Households Receiving SNAP by Race/Ethnicity, 2016-20
AsianBlack or African AmericanHispanicWhite
United States7%24%19%9%
Massachusetts10%26%33%9%
Region8%18%24%7%
Middlesex County7%19%18%6%
Norfolk County8%16%11%*6%
Worcester County10%*21%37%11%
Acton town, Middlesex County5%***0%***10%***5%**
Ashland town, Middlesex County0%***38%***13%***3%***
Bedford town, Middlesex County0%***0%***13%***1%***
Bellingham town, Norfolk County0%***0%***27%***10%***
Boxborough town, Middlesex County3%***0%***0%***2%***
Carlisle town, Middlesex County0%***0%***0%***1%***
Concord town, Middlesex County23%***0%***1%***1%***
Dedham town, Norfolk County0%***12%***6%***5%*
Dover town, Norfolk County0%***0%***0%***0%***
Framingham city, Middlesex County11%***22%**25%*8%
Franklin town, Norfolk County3%***50%***27%***4%**
Groton town, Middlesex County0%***0%***0%***4%***
Harvard town, Worcester County0%***0%***0%***0%***
Holliston town, Middlesex County2%***0%***0%***3%***
Hopkinton town, Middlesex County0%***0%***32%***2%***
Hudson town, Middlesex County29%***37%***30%***4%*
Lexington town, Middlesex County2%***0%***0%***2%**
Lincoln town, Middlesex County13%***0%***33%***6%***
Littleton town, Middlesex County15%***0%***0%***3%***
Marlborough city, Middlesex County4%***8%***12%***8%*
Maynard town, Middlesex County0%***0%***41%***2%***
Medfield town, Norfolk County0%***16%***0%***1%***
Medway town, Norfolk County0%***53%***30%***3%***
Milford town, Worcester County0%***0%***16%***7%*
Millis town, Norfolk County31%***0%***49%***2%***
Natick town, Middlesex County0%***7%***5%***3%*
Needham town, Norfolk County0%***16%***0%***3%**
Sherborn town, Middlesex County0%***0%***0%***2%***
Southborough town, Worcester County6%***0%***0%***2%***
Stow town, Middlesex County0%***0%***0%***1%***
Sudbury town, Middlesex County0%***0%***0%***2%***
Walpole town, Norfolk County6%***0%***7%***4%**
Waltham city, Middlesex County5%***5%***8%***5%*
Wayland town, Middlesex County2%***50%***0%***1%***
Wellesley town, Norfolk County2%***77%***8%***1%***
Westborough town, Worcester County7%***21%***3%***2%***
Westford town, Middlesex County4%***17%***8%***2%***
Weston town, Middlesex County0%***57%***0%***2%***
Westwood town, Norfolk County0%***0%***0%***2%***

Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Notes: Multiyear results are from rolling American Community Survey. * Margin of error between 20% & 35% of estimate; ** margin of error between 35% & 50%; *** margin of error greater than 50%. The Census Bureau asks people to identify their race (white, African-American, etc.) separate from their ethnicity (Hispanic or non-Hispanic). So the totals for these categories cannot be added together, as people show up in both a racial and ethnic group.




Number of Households Receiving SNAP by Race/Ethnicity, 2016-20
AsianBlack or African AmericanHispanicWhite
United States422,6743,662,3623,041,4717,960,865
Massachusetts15,52844,05483,926195,449
Region8,02610,57219,31168,736
Middlesex County4,6125,2667,07126,987
Norfolk County2,1542,6041,164*11,950
Worcester County1,260*2,70211,07629,799
Acton town, Middlesex County87***0***32***308**
Ashland town, Middlesex County0***146***52***197***
Bedford town, Middlesex County0***0***14***62***
Bellingham town, Norfolk County0***0***47***619***
Boxborough town, Middlesex County9***0***0***32***
Carlisle town, Middlesex County0***0***0***10***
Concord town, Middlesex County86***0***2***79***
Dedham town, Norfolk County0***81***50***483*
Dover town, Norfolk County0***0***0***0***
Framingham city, Middlesex County272***333**939*1,568
Franklin town, Norfolk County17***78***72***411**
Groton town, Middlesex County0***0***0***138***
Harvard town, Worcester County0***0***0***5***
Holliston town, Middlesex County5***0***0***145***
Hopkinton town, Middlesex County0***0***41***113***
Hudson town, Middlesex County37***14***87***311*
Lexington town, Middlesex County59***0***0***158**
Lincoln town, Middlesex County14***0***57***138***
Littleton town, Middlesex County28***0***0***86***
Marlborough city, Middlesex County30***42***234***1,023*
Maynard town, Middlesex County0***0***41***94***
Medfield town, Norfolk County0***8***0***46***
Medway town, Norfolk County0***19***22***139***
Milford town, Worcester County0***0***155***662*
Millis town, Norfolk County11***0***26***72***
Natick town, Middlesex County0***23***17***358*
Needham town, Norfolk County0***39***0***250**
Sherborn town, Middlesex County0***0***0***25***
Southborough town, Worcester County29***0***0***53***
Stow town, Middlesex County0***0***0***26***
Sudbury town, Middlesex County0***0***0***96***
Walpole town, Norfolk County23***0***32***296**
Waltham city, Middlesex County159***66***186***944*
Wayland town, Middlesex County11***10***0***36***
Wellesley town, Norfolk County19***77***28***103***
Westborough town, Worcester County105***37***13***88***
Westford town, Middlesex County63***5***16***148***
Weston town, Middlesex County0***13***0***62***
Westwood town, Norfolk County0***0***0***106***

Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Notes: Multiyear results are from rolling American Community Survey. * Margin of error between 20% & 35% of estimate; ** margin of error between 35% & 50%; *** margin of error greater than 50%. The Census Bureau asks people to identify their race (white, African-American, etc.) separate from their ethnicity (Hispanic or non-Hispanic). So the totals for these categories cannot be added together, as people show up in both a racial and ethnic group.




Households Receiving SNAP by Race/Ethnicity, 2011-15
AsianBlack or African AmericanHispanicWhite
United States8%28%22%10%
Massachusetts13%29%39%10%
Region10%22%29%7%
Middlesex County9%24%23%6%
Norfolk County11%17%14%*6%
Worcester County11%24%41%11%
Acton town, Middlesex County3%***0%***68%***5%*
Ashland town, Middlesex County0%***9%***17%***4%**
Bedford town, Middlesex County5%***85%***36%***4%***
Bellingham town, Norfolk County0%***0%***0%***8%*
Boxborough town, Middlesex County0%***0%***52%***3%***
Carlisle town, Middlesex County7%***0%***0%***0%***
Concord town, Middlesex County0%***0%***0%***1%***
Dedham town, Norfolk County5%***10%***14%***6%*
Dover town, Norfolk County0%***0%***0%***1%***
Framingham city, Middlesex County4%***23%**31%*8%
Franklin town, Norfolk County5%***0%***30%***5%*
Groton town, Middlesex County0%***0%***0%***3%***
Harvard town, Worcester County0%***74%***0%***2%***
Holliston town, Middlesex County9%***0%***0%***4%***
Hopkinton town, Middlesex County0%***56%***0%***2%***
Hudson town, Middlesex County13%***32%***14%***6%*
Lexington town, Middlesex County7%**23%***0%***2%**
Lincoln town, Middlesex County0%***0%***5%***1%***
Littleton town, Middlesex County5%***0%***0%***8%**
Marlborough city, Middlesex County6%***19%***23%**8%*
Maynard town, Middlesex County42%***71%***0%***1%***
Medfield town, Norfolk County0%***0%***0%***2%***
Medway town, Norfolk County0%***0%***0%***2%***
Milford town, Worcester County1%***18%***12%***10%*
Millis town, Norfolk County23%***0%***16%***3%***
Natick town, Middlesex County3%***4%***5%***4%*
Needham town, Norfolk County5%***17%***25%***1%***
Sherborn town, Middlesex County0%***0%***0%***1%***
Southborough town, Worcester County0%***0%***0%***2%***
Stow town, Middlesex County0%***0%***0%***2%***
Sudbury town, Middlesex County0%***0%***0%***2%***
Walpole town, Norfolk County13%***26%***0%***4%**
Waltham city, Middlesex County8%**14%***14%**6%*
Wayland town, Middlesex County4%***0%***0%***2%***
Wellesley town, Norfolk County5%***0%***0%***2%*
Westborough town, Worcester County4%***14%***27%***2%***
Westford town, Middlesex County5%***0%***8%***1%***
Weston town, Middlesex County1%***22%***0%***1%***
Westwood town, Norfolk County0%***0%***0%***1%***

Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Notes: Multiyear results are from rolling American Community Survey. * Margin of error between 20% & 35% of estimate; ** margin of error between 35% & 50%; *** margin of error greater than 50%. The Census Bureau asks people to identify their race (white, African-American, etc.) separate from their ethnicity (Hispanic or non-Hispanic). So the totals for these categories cannot be added together, as people show up in both a racial and ethnic group.




Number of Households Receiving SNAP by Race/Ethnicity, 2011-15
AsianBlack or African AmericanHispanicWhite
United States384,7634,016,3353,239,2759,363,114
Massachusetts16,08546,39382,497205,957
Region8,04911,17418,35172,443
Middlesex County4,4886,0697,41030,092
Norfolk County2,3962,3771,110*12,765
Worcester County1,1652,7289,83129,586
Acton town, Middlesex County40***0***67***340*
Ashland town, Middlesex County0***16***42***240**
Bedford town, Middlesex County33***75***46***162***
Bellingham town, Norfolk County0***0***0***465*
Boxborough town, Middlesex County0***0***11***44***
Carlisle town, Middlesex County11***0***0***0***
Concord town, Middlesex County0***0***0***88***
Dedham town, Norfolk County17***56***72***543*
Dover town, Norfolk County0***0***0***9***
Framingham city, Middlesex County78***428**994*1,761
Franklin town, Norfolk County20***0***92***507*
Groton town, Middlesex County0***0***0***101***
Harvard town, Worcester County0***42***0***32***
Holliston town, Middlesex County17***0***0***203***
Hopkinton town, Middlesex County0***39***0***126***
Hudson town, Middlesex County26***35***22***451*
Lexington town, Middlesex County170**22***0***210**
Lincoln town, Middlesex County0***0***9***28***
Littleton town, Middlesex County7***0***0***244**
Marlborough city, Middlesex County49***84***303**1,029*
Maynard town, Middlesex County56***49***0***48***
Medfield town, Norfolk County0***0***0***85***
Medway town, Norfolk County0***0***0***86***
Milford town, Worcester County2***27***85***970*
Millis town, Norfolk County16***0***16***94***
Natick town, Middlesex County33***11***20***439*
Needham town, Norfolk County36***34***50***139***
Sherborn town, Middlesex County0***0***0***16***
Southborough town, Worcester County0***0***0***70***
Stow town, Middlesex County0***0***0***60***
Sudbury town, Middlesex County0***0***0***130***
Walpole town, Norfolk County37***48***0***329**
Waltham city, Middlesex County188**177***316**1,230*
Wayland town, Middlesex County19***0***0***77***
Wellesley town, Norfolk County35***0***0***185*
Westborough town, Worcester County56***16***66***120***
Westford town, Middlesex County46***0***11***102***
Weston town, Middlesex County4***11***0***48***
Westwood town, Norfolk County0***0***0***56***

Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Notes: Multiyear results are from rolling American Community Survey. * Margin of error between 20% & 35% of estimate; ** margin of error between 35% & 50%; *** margin of error greater than 50%. The Census Bureau asks people to identify their race (white, African-American, etc.) separate from their ethnicity (Hispanic or non-Hispanic). So the totals for these categories cannot be added together, as people show up in both a racial and ethnic group.




INDICATORS REGIONAL TREND
Early Prenatal Care by Mother's Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Children Living in Poverty Maintaining
Children Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Single-Parent Families Increasing
Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Disengaged Youth Decreasing
Reports of Domestic Violence Maintaining
Arts, Entertainment and Recreation Establishments Increasing
Households Without Vehicles Maintaining
Means of Transportation to Work Not Applicable
Households With Internet Access Not Applicable
Voter Participation Rate Increasing
Average Charitable Contribution Maintaining
People Without Health Insurance Decreasing
Drug Poisoning Mortality Rate Increasing
Crimes Against People Decreasing
Incarceration Rates, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Change in Total Population Increasing
Change in Population by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Foreign-Born Population Increasing
Language Diversity Increasing
Population by Age Not Applicable
Change in Population by Age/Gender Not Applicable
Seniors Living Alone Decreasing
People with Disabilities Maintaining
Change in Total Jobs by Sector Not Applicable
Business Ownership by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate Increasing
Share of Workers who are Professionals, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Average Salary by Sector Not Applicable
High-Tech Jobs Maintaining
Female to Male Earnings Ratio Maintaining
Prekindergarten Participation Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 3 English, by Student Group Not Applicable
School Spending Per Student Maintaining
Student Performance on Grade 8 Math by Student Group Not Applicable
Chronically Absent Students Increasing
High School Cohort Graduation Rate by Student Group Not Applicable
Education Levels of Adults Not Applicable
College Admission Rate, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Education Levels of Adults, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty Increasing
People Living in Poverty, by Education Level Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Households Receiving Temporary Assistance Maintaining
Participation in Food Assistance by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Median Household Income Maintaining
Median Household Income, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Living Wage Not Applicable
80/20 Income Ratio Maintaining
Access to Financial Services, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Homeownership Rates Increasing
Homeownership Rates, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Cost of Homeownership Increasing
Cost of Homeownership, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Cost of Rent Not Applicable
Cost of Rent, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Homelessness Increasing
Early Prenatal Care by Mother's Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Children Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Incarceration Rates, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Change in Population by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Business Ownership by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Share of Workers who are Professionals, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 3 English, by Student Group Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 8 Math by Student Group Not Applicable
High School Cohort Graduation Rate by Student Group Not Applicable
College Admission Rate, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Education Levels of Adults, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Participation in Food Assistance by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Median Household Income, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Access to Financial Services, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Homeownership Rates, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Cost of Homeownership, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Cost of Rent, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable


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